Austin News

Austin Independent School District isn’t being truthful about its connections to lobbyists and use of lobbying to affect legislation, according to one state representative.

In February, Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) told Texas Business Coalition that although Austin Independent School District told him that they had nothing to disclose, that was not true.

“Well, that’s a lie,” Middleton said. “Austin ISD spends a fortune lobbying the Texas Legislature.”

Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz

Texas Business Coalition reached out to Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz, who recently announced his resignation, and Chief of Staff Jacob Reach for comment multiple times. Neither responded.

That accusation comes after Middleton sent letters to 3,000 school districts and local governments, asking them to disclose the extent of their lobbying efforts, funding spent on lobbying, and which firms they used. He also asked for information on legislation each organization supported or opposed.

According to Middleton, 2,000 of those organizations responded. But, he said not all were truthful, pointing to Austin ISD and several other school districts.

Last year, Middleton introduced a bill that would ban lobbying by government agencies (including school districts), but the bill failed in the House. Another bill on the same topic passed in the Senate and failed in the House. 

But, there was a third bill that did pass, and it included a section that mandated governments disclose lobbying information. That bill, Senate Bill 65, went into effect on Sept. 1, 2019.

Middleton is urging local governments to release all details of their lobbying, including length of contracts and their costs. He also requested copies of contracts with lobbying firms. 

In February, he said with local governments spending an estimated $41 million annually to lobby in Austin, often on behalf of laws that will raise taxes, it's only fair to find out how much they are spending.

“This is just a basic taxpayer rights thing,” Middleton said. “It’s their money. Unfortunately, we see governments hiring lobbyists to fight against taxpayers.”